Going to Jogja?

This page is still being developed. It will contain practical information to visit Jogja. An itinerary to do the best of Jogja is available here

Everybody who has not been to Jogja wants to go to Jogja. Yogyakarta — it’s formal name — is the old capital of Indonesia. It is located in the heart of Java. If Jakarta is the brain, Jogja is the soul.

Jogja is famous for its culture and traditions that walk hand in hand with modernity. It is a modern city with strong un-faded Javanese values.

Some of its beauties include:

The infamous Jalan Malioboro — the road leads to the Palace

A Hindu temple in the proximity of Jogja is Candi Prambanan. It is located in the border of Sleman (in Yogyakarta) and Klaten (in Central Java).

Yogyakarta is also home for one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mt Merapi.

New beaches discovered, upping the leverage of Jogja tourism.

Sadeng, one out of many beaches in the district of Gunungkidul

Jogja Tourism Sites by district:

Kota Yogyakarta:

1. Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat (The Palace) is located in the heart of Yogya Province. The King or Sultan serves as the Governor of the province. The Palace is considered as the most well-maintained palace in the country. Try to walk between two banyan trees in Alun-Alun blindfolded. If you passed your wish would come true. Believe me, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

2. Taman Sari is a water castle of the Yogyakarta Sultanate. It is around 2 km from the Palace.

3. Malioboro is the most famous street in the city. It’s like Singapore’s Orchard Road. It is where travellers shop, dine, or socialize with the locals. Base your travel around Malioboro in areas like Prawirotaman, Sosrowijayan, Dagen, etc. There are hundreds of backpacker lodges or homestays in these areas.

4. Beringharjo Market is the biggest traditional market in Yogyakarta, on Malioboro. You can get groceries, batik, souvenirs, almost everything. Do bargain and beware of pickpockets.

5. Vredeburg Fort is a Dutch Fort built in 1765 to protect colonial residence. It is on Malioboro and very close to the Palace.

6. Taman Pintar or Science Park is located just around the corner of Malioboro. It is most suitable for children.

District of Sleman

1. Prambanan Temple is located in the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java. It is on the eastern tip of Jogja, aroung 15 minutes drive from the airport. Is it the most important Hindu Temple in the country and often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, although I think it’s an overstatement. It is beautiful complex although suffered from the impact of 2005 earthquake. You go to Jogja, you have to visit Prambanan. Period.

2. Temples are scattered in Sleman — mostly around Prambanan — although not all are Hindu. Many temples in Yogya are Buddhist temples. There are: Candi (temple) Sari, Kalasan, Sambisari, Gebang, Ijo, Ratu Boko, and few smaller others.

3. Monumen Jogja Kembali and Lampion Park. The monument was built to commemorate the successful attack against the Dutch in 1949. Just recently, the management added huge lampions/paper lanterns. The park opens from 5pm.

4. Mt Merapi is said to be the most active volcano in the world. Well, it erupts many times. The last eruption, in 2010 killed around 200 lives. You still can see the remains of the surroundings, the ashes, the rocks, etc. Take a tour using motorbike or jeep.

5. Museum Gunung Merapi or Museum of Mt Merapi is a newly opened museum exhibits everything related to Mt Merapi, such as rocks, photos, miniatures etc.

6. Ullen Sentalu is a beautiful private art gallery in Kaliurang. Opened in 1994 to preserve Javanese culture and arts.

District of Bantul

1. Parangtritis is the oldest and by far the most well-known beach in Yogyakarta. It is famous for its legendary Nyi Roro Kidul (Queen of the South). It is also the beach where the Palace conducts some of its rituals such as labuhan and nglarung. Nearby there is Parangkusumo.

2. Depok beach is famous for its fish market.You can get fresh seafood or get it cooked on the stalls lined on the beach.

3. Goa Cemara and Kuwaru beaches are relatively new. Both beaches have fir trees serve as windbreaker to protect the farmers’ crops.

4. Gabusan Art Market is the right place to look for souvenirs, paintings, and antiques. A water park was recently built in the premise.

Stumbled upon this while researching trip to Jogja. Great blog and I salute you guys for embracing such a lifestyle. I just want to see as many world heritage sites as possible.

We (family of 4) will be in Yogja/Solo for three days, 2 nites and will fly into Jogja around 1230pm and leave from Solo airport at about 4pm on third day. We have booked a hotel near Borobudur for first nite and one in Jogja near Malioboro street for the second nite.

Based on the info, do you have any advise on the best itinerary so that we can maximise the short time we have in Jogja and Borobudur and also incur least cost (if possible).

We are keen to see most of the tourist areas and do some shopping in town centre

Basically, you will visit Borobudur on the 1st day.. after Borobudur, just go for short visit to Mendut temple, then try to catch Ketep Pass after leaving from Borobudur. In the night, you can walk around Kraton (Palace)-Malioboro, or try to walk blindly in Alun-alun Kidul. Dont miss shopping at Beringharjo market, the largest market in Yogyakarta. You must also visit Prambanan temple and Ratu Boko palace, just 30 min from city center. If you still have time, try to visit small temples near Prambanan like Candi (temple) Sewu, Kalasan, Sambisari, Ijo. I believe that’s good enough to cover Jogja in 3 days…

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An Indonesian family backpacker, been to 25+ countries as a family. Yogyakarta native, now living in Crawley, UK. Author of several traveling books and travelogue. Owner of OmahSelo Family Guest House Jogja. Strongly support family traveling with kids.